Why Kuari Pass is Called the Finest View Trek in India
The Kuari Pass trek — also called the Curzon Trail after Lord Curzon who trekked it as Viceroy in 1905 — offers what many experienced Himalayan trekkers consider the most dramatic mountain panorama in India. From the pass at 3,640 metres, the entire eastern wall of the Garhwal Himalaya unfolds before you: Nanda Devi (7,816m, India's second highest peak), Dronagiri (7,066m), Chaukhamba (7,138m), Kamet (7,756m), and the peaks surrounding Badrinath.
Unlike Nepal's Annapurna Circuit, the Kuari Pass trail is not crowded. You will share the high camps with a handful of other trekking groups at most — and sometimes no one at all.
Trek Details
- Duration: 6 nights / 7 days
- Maximum altitude: 3,640m (Kuari Pass)
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Season: April–June, September–November
- Trekking distance: ~50 km total
- Starting point: Auli (2,519m), Uttarakhand
Day-by-Day Itinerary
- Day 1: Drive Haridwar to Auli via Joshimath (250 km, 8–9 hours). Overnight at Auli — at the top of the cable car with views of Nanda Devi.
- Day 2: Auli to Gorson Bugyal (3,050m). 6 km trek through dense oak and rhododendron forest. Camp in the meadow with panoramic views.
- Day 3: Gorson Bugyal to Tali Top (3,350m). 8 km. Crossing a high ridge with first views of Dronagiri and Kamet.
- Day 4: Tali Top to Kuari Pass (3,640m) and down to Khullara (3,450m). 10 km. Summit day — pass crossing in the morning, camp below the ridge.
- Day 5: Khullara to Pana (2,700m). 10 km descent through forest. Village stay.
- Day 6: Pana to Ramni (2,200m). 8 km. Lower altitude — warmer, lush forest. Final camp.
- Day 7: Drive Ramni to Haridwar (8–9 hours). End of trek.
Best Season
- April–June: Rhododendron bloom in the lower forests (stunning in April), clear summit views, warm days. Snow possible in April on the pass.
- September–November: Post-monsoon clarity. The best visibility of the season — peaks are crystal clear after the rains wash the atmosphere. October is the single best month.
- July–August (monsoon): Not recommended — leeches in lower sections, poor visibility, wet camps.
How International Visitors Get to Auli
- Fly Delhi to Dehradun (45 min, daily flights from ₹2,500)
- Drive Dehradun to Joshimath (250 km, 8–9 hours via Rishikesh–Devprayag–Chamoli highway)
- Cable car from Joshimath to Auli (4 km, 20 minutes — Asia's longest cable car)
Or fly Delhi to Dehradun + overnight drive to Joshimath (arrive early morning), cable car to Auli, trek starts same day.